4 Reasons Why Real Foods are More Than a Trend

The supplement industry is currently worth hundreds of billions and if this trend continues, by 2027 it is believed the industry will be worth a staggering $270.7 billion 😳

When used in conjunction with a healthy and balanced diet, supplements are indeed extremely beneficial and good for you. The thing to remember, though, is that they don’t work miracles. If you’re using health and/or fitness supplements without eating healthy foods, or worse still, if you’re using them instead of eating real foods, your health will suffer.

Far too many people are relying more on supplements than they are on real foods, and that has to stop.

Real foods are more than a trend and to prove it, here’s a look at several reasons to eat whole foods.

Healthy whole foods are low in sugar

One of the main benefits of eating real, whole, healthy foods is the fact that they’re low in sugar.

Many supplements contain sugars, or artificial sweeteners which are both bad for your health and can lead to a number of health issues.

High sugar intakes can increase your risk of obesity and contracting diseases such as type-2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and certain forms of cancer.

Processed foods are often enriched with added sugar, or ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, for added sweetness, which can damage your health.

Fruit, despite containing natural fructose sugars, is much lower in sugar than a lot of processed foods. It also contains fibre which is very good for you and makes you feel fuller for longer, which may lead to lower sugar intake overall.

Better digestive health

Real foods, ie. real whole foods full of natural goodness, are packed full of dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that have been found to promote better digestive health.

Supplements, despite being rich in vitamins and nutrients, don't contain the fibre you need to keep your digestive system healthy and functional.

Not only that, but because of the fibre and other macronutrients found in whole real foods, they’re digested and absorbed slower, rather than supplements which are designed to be digested and absorbed rapidly.

Regulate blood sugar levels

Close to 500 million people worldwide suffer with diabetes, and that number is rising every single year.

Supplements containing sugars, even naturally occurring ones, could spike insulin levels faster than real foods, which in turn could lead to unstable blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and even potentially complete shutdown of insulin production.

Whole foods are digested and absorbed much slower than powders, liquids, tablets, and capsules, making them much better for blood sugar management.

Furthermore, eating foods with a low glycemic index could help to reduce blood sugar levels and keep them stable.

Gives you variety

Finally, the last benefit of real foods over supplements and meal replacements is the fact that consuming them gives you so much variety.

Having a variety of different ingredients to choose from means that you can mix things up and try something different every day. This prevents things from becoming stale and monotonous, so you look forward to your meals, rather than dreading them.

After all, food should be enjoyed – not endured!